Capping machine



Feb. 20, 1951 s. D. MCCLELLAN CAPPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 15, 1946 Feb. 20, 1951 s. o. MOCLELLAN 2,542,255

v CAPPING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Egg. 2.

Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAPPING MACHINE.

Stanley D. McClellan, Dearborn, Mich.

Application April 15, 1946, Serial No. 662,220 1 Claim. (Cl. 113-18)This invention relates to capping machines, and in particular, tocapping machines for crimping the flanged caps or covers of containerssuch as cans, drums or the like.

One object of this invention is to provide a capping machine operated bypower for capping cans and. drums in a quick and efficient manner.

Another object is to provide a capping machine which is power-operatedand which is adjustable to receive and cap containers of a wide range ofsizes from a large oil drum to a small can.

Another object is to provide a capping machine for cans and drumswherein the machine is provided with a conveyor whereby the can may befilled at one station and immediately capped at an adjoining stationwithout spilling the contents by the slopping over which occurs when thefilled cans are moved any considerable distance.

Another object is to provide a capping machine as set forth in thepreceding objects wherein the machine is operated by a power-driven orhydraulically or pneumatically operated plunger, thereby eliminatingmost of the manual labor previously connected with capping machines.

Another object is to provide a capping machine as set forth in thepreceding objects wherein the container to be capped is guided intoalignment with the capping mechanism and releasably held there while thecapping mechanism operates to cap the container, after which a stop isremoved from engagement with the container and the latter is moved alongthe conveyor and another container moved into position against thealigning stop which has meanwhile been moved back into operatingposition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a capping machine according to apreferred form of the invention, as operated by a hydraulic or pneumaticplunger;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in central vertical section andpartly broken away of the capping machine shown in Figure 1, prior tothe crimping operation;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section along the line 3-3 in Figure 2, withthe container removed;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the capping mechanism, takenalong the line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 5-5 inFigure 4, showing the position of the crimping mechanism after thecrimping operation; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in central verticalsection of a cam-operated modification of the upper portion of thecapping machine shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 and 2 show a preferredform of the capping machine of this invention as including a base iiihaving a stanchion or upright ll secured thereto. The stanchion H is ofI-section and is provided with a reinforcing web 12 rising from the baseup the rearward flange I3 thereof. The forward flange I4, which isjoined to the rearward flange 13 by a web i5, is machined along itsfront surface It and rearward edge portion I! (Figure 3) to formparallel guideways for a work supporting unit, generally designated l8and an operating unit, generally designated 19, which in turn supportsand actuates the capping unit, generally designated 23. The latteroperates upon containers such as cans, drums or buckets, generallydesignated 2|.

The work supporting unit l8 consists of a vertically adjustable bed 22having a vertical arm portion 23 extending above and below thehorizontal portion 24 thereof and having a machined longitudinal slot 25of substantially the same dimensions as the forward flange l4 so as toreciprocate vertically therealong. The arm portion 23 is retained inposition by retaining plates 26 bolted thereto as at 21 and engaging themachine portions ll of the flange l4, and is held in its adjustedposition by bolts 28. The horizontal and vertical portions 23 and 24 areinterconnected by integral side webs 28a.

The horizontal portion 24 of the bed 22 is provided with anapproximately rectangular central opening 29 through and over which acombined stop and conveyor unit 3 extends. The latter consists of arectangular framework 31 of angle members havin side members 32interconnected by cross members 33 (Figures 2 and 3). The side members32 are provided with longitudinal slots 34 (Figure 3) through which passbolts 35 for holding the framework 3| in an adjusted position, dependingupon the size of the container 2| to be capped. The side members 32 arealso bored at intervals as at 36 to receive the axles 31 of conveyorrollers 38, rotatably supported upon the framework 3|. Secured as at 39to and depending from the framework 3! is an angle bracket 42] which isbored to receive a pivot bolt 4| (Figures 1 and 2) and which also has ahole 42 at its lower end. Pivotally mounted upon the pivot bolt 4| is abell crank lever 43, the short arm 44 of which is provided with a hole45 at its lower end. A tension spring 45 is anchored at its oppositeends to the holes 42 and 45 and serves to urge the long arm 41 upwardly,together with a stop 48 rising from the upper edge thereof and extendingbetween a pair of the rollers 38.

guide rails 54 having their points 55 of nearest approach approximatelyat the midpoints thereof.

The operating unit I9 includes an approxi mately rectangular bracket 56(Figure 2) having a vertical rear wall provided with a machined slot 58similar to the slot and having similar retaining plates 59 boltedthereto as at 99. Locking bolts GI are similarly threaded through thevertical wall ill in a manner similar to the bolts 28.

manner similar to the bed 22.

Secured as at 92 to the forward wall 53 of the bracket 59 is a cylinder94 having a cylinder bore closed at its upper end by a cylinder head 66.The lower wall 6! of the cylinder Ed is provided with a bore 68 and analigned counterbore 69 for the passage of a piston rod 19 connected to apiston II reciprocably mounted in the cylinder bore 95. The counter bore69 receives an annular packing I2 compressed by a flange I3 threadedinto the counterbore I59, and surrounding the piston rod ID to preventleakage therearound.

The cylinder 94 is provided at its opposite ends with ports 19 and fromwhich conduits l6 and 17 lead respectively to a four-way valve I8 towhich are connected the supply and discharge conduits I9 adn 89connected to a conventional hydraulic pump and reservoir (not shown), orto a source of compressed air if it is desired to operate the piston 'Ilpneumatically. Such hydraulic and pneumatic circuits are conventionaland their details form no part of the present invention.

The flow of pressurefluid through the fourway valve 18 is controlled bya valve stem 8! upon which is mounted a rotary valve member 82 havingcurved passageways 83 and 84 therein (Figure 1) Mounted on the outer endof the valve rod BI is a crank arm 85 to which is pivotally connected alink 89, the lower end of which is pivotally connected toa hand lever 8?pivotally mounted at 88 upon a bracket 89 bolted to and extendingforwardly from the forwardly projecting portion 99 of the bracket 59.Similarly, the valve l8 ismounted upon a bracket 9| bolted to thecylinder St. A spring 92 anchored at its upper end to the bracket 9i andat its lower end to the clamp 93 mounted on the link 86, serves to urgethe latter upward (Figure 1). I

The forwardly projecting portion 99 of the bracket 56 is provided with avertical bore 94 (Figure 2) within which is reciprocably mounted ahollow plunger 95 provided with a longitudinal bore 99, the upper end ofwhich is threaded as at 9? to receive the enlarged threaded lower end 99of the piston rod III. The hollow plunger 95 is also provided with areduced diameter bore 98a coaxial with the bore 96. Reciprocably mountedin the bores 98a and 96 are a shaft 99 and an enlarged head or pistonI99 mounted on the upper end thereof. The lower end of the shaft 99 istightly secured within a bore Iillof a spider I02, the arms of which areconnected In this manner, the bracket 56 is adis justable verticallyalong the stanchion II in a at their outer ends to a hold-down ring I03provided with spaced radially projecting yoke portions I94. Mounted inthe latter are pivot pins I95 upon which are pivotally mounted aplurality of crimping levers I96, the lower ends of which are providedwith inwardly extending arcuate crimping fingers IIJI (Figures 2, 4 and5). The upper ends of the levers I05 are provided with yoke portions I98carrying pivot pins I99 to which'are connected links III], the upperends of which are pivoted to pivot pins III mounted upon yoke ears H2secured to and integral with the hollow plunger 95.

The modification shown in Figure 6 is generally similar to the preferredform shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, and similar parts are similarlydesignated. In this modification, however,' the machine is operatedmechanically rather than hydraulically or pneumatically, and for thispurpose the bracket 56 is provided with an upper forwardly projectingportion or shelf H3 upon which is mounted a reduction gear box [I9having an input shaft H5 carrying a pulley IIG for connection to anelectric motor or other suitable power source. The reduction gear box INis of a conventional type and contains a conventional clutch (notshown), actuated by the operating rod lIl carrying a crank arm I I8pivotally connected to a link M9, the lower end or which is pivotallyeonmetea to a hand lever I26 pivotally mounted as at I2! upon the lowerforwardly projecting portion of the bracket 56. iiig" boss I22 whichrotatably supports a cam shaft I2? which constitutes the output shaft ofthe reduction gear box H4, Mounted on the cam shaft I23 is a cam I24engaging a follower I25 011 the upper end of the piston rod 'I OQ' Aspring I26 similar to the spring 92 and similarly secured as at I22 tothe link II9, urges the latter upward; The remaining portions of themachine are similar to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5inclusive and are similarly designated. I

Prior to the operation of the machine, the latter-is adjusted toaccommodate the particular size of container 2! to be capped. If thecontaine'r isa tall one, the bolts 28 are loosened and the bed 22lowered to a location near the base I9,

whereupon the screws 28 are tightened. The

bracket 56 is also raised to a suflic-ient height along the stanchion IIby loosening the bolts 6|, then retightening them in their adjustedposition. When properly adjusted, the holddown ring I 03 is easilymovable into engagement withthe cover or cap I39 of the container ZI;the edge I3I of which is rolled over to receive the flanged edge I32 ofthe cap I 99 superimposed upon it. The guide rails 5% are adjustedinwardly or outwardly so that their midportions 55 engage the side wallsI33 of the container 2| when the latter iscentered upon the axis of theplungers I9 and 99, where upon the clamp screws 5i are tightened. Theclamping bolts 3.5 are now loosened and the framework 3i moved bodily tothe right (Figure 3) until the stop 63 engages the container side wallI33 while it is still in its centered position, whereupon the clampingbolts 35 are tightened. The machine is now ready for operation and willaccommodate any number of containers 2| of the size for which themachine has been adjusted in the foregoing manner. t

A container 2i which has just been filled with the contained material,such as paint, is slid manually from the filling station (not shown) Theshelf H3 is also provided with a bearover the rollers 38 until it comesto rest against the stop 43 and between the midportions 55 of the guiderails 59 (Figure 3), a cap I30 meanwhile having been placed over theupper edge E3! of the container 2|. The hand lever 87 (Figure 1) or me(Figure 6) is then pulled downwardly, operating either the valve 76 orthe clutch within the reduction gear box H4. In either case, the pistonrod 79, hollow plunger 95 and headed plunger 99 descend, carrying withthem the capping unit 20.

The cappin unit 29 continues its downward motion until the holddown ringI03 encounters the cap or cover 60, whereupon it comes to a halt. Thehollow plunger 95 continues its downward motion, however, causing thecrimping levers its and crimping fingers I07 to move inwardly, crimpingthe flange l32 around the rolled edge I3! of the container side wall 133(Figure 5). The hand lever 8'! or I20 is then shifted upward, causingthe piston rod '50 and the capping unit 29 to be raised out ofengagement with the container 2!. The hollow plunger 95 and piston I09thus form a sliding cushioning lost-motion connection between thecrimping device H36, I01, i 10 and the holddown device 102, I03. Thislostmotion connection widens the range of action and consequently theflexibility of the capping unit because of the wide range of motionprovided by the piston !00 reciprocating in the elongated cylinder bore96. The cylinder or hollow plunger 95 is moved downward relatively tothe piston Hill by the reciprocation of the rod 70, the air entrappedabove the piston I00 in the bore 96 providing a pneumatic cushion whichlessens the shock of operation of the capping unit 20.

The operator nowpushes down with one hand on the hand lever 47 (Figure2), causing the stop 48 to move downwardly between the rollers 38, andwith his other hand pushes the capped container 2| out of the way towardits next station to the left (Figure 1), and then releases the handlever 47 so that the stop 48 returns to its raised position. Theoperator then places another cover H upon another filled container 2!from the filling station at the right (Figure 1) into position betweenthe guide rails 54 against the stop 48. He again shifts the hand lever81 or I20 downward, repeating the previous operation and capping thesecond container 21. The operation can be repeated for any desirednumber of containers and the machine may then be readjust- 7 ed .toaccommodate a different size of container by making the adjustmentspreviously described.

While I have shown and described my invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the same is to be limited only by the appended claim,for many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention.

What I claim is:

A capping machine for crimping the edge flange of a cover around the rimof a container, comprising an upright, a container holder disposedadjacent said upright, a support connected to and extending horizontallyfrom said upright above said holder, a plunger mounted on said supportfor reciprocation vertically relatively to said support, power-operatedmeans for reciprocating said plunger, and capping mechanism connected toand depending from said plunger, said capping mechanism having ahold-down device engageable with said container cover, a crimping devicecomprising levers pivotally mounted on said holddown device and linkspivotally interconnecting said plunger and said levers, said leversbeing movable horizontallf, by said links into crimping engagement withsaid cover flange and container in response to the reciprocation of saidplunger in one direction, and a lost motioucushioning connectioninterposed between said devices and including a cylinder member with acylinder bore therein and a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinderbore, one of said members being connected to said plunger and to saidcrimping device and the other member being connected to said holddowndevice.

STANLEY D. MCCLELLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,025,637 Meier May 7, 19121,099,757 Malmquist June 9, 1914 1,300,406 Johnson Apr. 15, 19191,524,606 Widell Jan. 27, 1925 1,567,387 Rode Dec. 29, 1925 1,640,585Thornton Aug. 30, 1927 1,706,299 Johnson Mar. 19, 1929 1,829,199 SpragueOct. 27, 1931 1,979,793 Chalmers Nov. 6, 1934 1,980,361 Spear Nov. 13,1934 2,145,834 Irven Jan. 31, 1939 2,352,095 Grotnes -1 June 20, 1944

